U.S. Economy Unexpectedly Contracts in Fourth Quarter — Private-Sector Hiring Rose by 192,000 in January, ADP Reports — WASHINGTON—U.S. economic momentum screeched to a halt in the final months of 2012, as businesses pared back inventories and government spending fell sharply …

National Income and Product Accounts — Gross Domestic Product, 4th quarter and annual 2012 (advance estimate) — Real gross domestic product — the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States — decreased at an annual rate of .1 percent …

GDP Shows Surprise Drop for US in Fourth Quarter — The U.S. economy posted a stunning drop of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter, defying expectations for slow growth and possibly providing incentive for more Federal Reserve stimulus. — The economy shrank from October through December …

Economy in U.S. Contracts as Defense Spending Slumps — The economy in the U.S. unexpectedly shrank in the fourth quarter, restrained by the biggest plunge in defense spending in four decades and dwindling inventory growth as household purchases picked up. — Gross domestic product …

Israel hits target in Syria border area: sources — (Reuters) - Israeli forces attacked a convoy on the Syrian-Lebanese border overnight, a Western diplomat and regional security sources said on Wednesday, as concern has grown in the Jewish state over the fate of Syrian chemical and advanced conventional weapons.

Who Are the Gang Of 8 in Senate Immigration Debate? — The Senate's so-called “Gang of 8” has gained national attention in the past week by announcing sweeping plans for bipartisan immigration reform. But who can count themselves as members of Capitol Hill's newest clique?

President Obama's popularity surges to three-year high — President Obama is riding a wave of personal popularity into his second term, with his highest favorability ratings since his first year in office, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. — Fully 60 percent of Americans …

Strict Gun Laws in Chicago Can't Stem Fatal Shots — CHICAGO — Not a single gun shop can be found in this city because they are outlawed. Handguns were banned in Chicago for decades, too, until 2010, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that was going too far, leading city leaders …

That Cuddly Kitty Is Deadlier Than You Think — For all the adorable images of cats that play the piano, flush the toilet, mew melodiously and find their way back home over hundreds of miles, scientists have identified a shocking new truth: cats are far deadlier than anyone realized.

Al Gore Dreams of Electric Jeeps — Readers of the former vice president's book might be excused for thinking that all of the evils in the world come from corporations. — There have always been two Al Gores. There is techno-enthusiast Al, who, during his 2000 run for president …

Scott Brown ‘leaning strongly’ toward Senate bid — BOSTON (AP) — GOP officials close to Scott Brown report that the former Republican senator is “leaning strongly toward running” in the special election to replace Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. — They report that Brown is likely to enter the race early next week.

George Ryan Enters Halfway House After Years In Prison — Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan entered the Salvation Army halfway house in Chicago Wednesday morning after being released from prison. He served a sentence for corruption charges. — Former Gov. George Ryan was released …

GOP's Electoral Vote Scheme Already On Life Support — Four states down, and just two remain. — Key Republican officials in Virginia, Ohio, Florida, and Michigan are coming out against a RNC-backed scheme to rig the electoral vote in Democratic-leaning states in order to boost Republican presidential candidates.

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